Page 54 - WesternU View - Fall 2017
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Alumni give back through annual scholarship
Less than one year after graduating from the College of Optometry, inaugural class members Vipal Gandhi, OD ’13 and Kambiz Silani, OD ’13, established the College’s first alumni
scholarship, to be awarded annually.
The Gandhi/Silani Annual Scholarship for Clinical Excellence and Leadership Award supports students who demonstrate leadership and top clinical skills in a patient-care setting.
Silani said the College was supportive and committed to the student body, and that he and Gandhi wanted to create a scholarship to give back to the school that supported them
unconditionally.
“Through our efforts, our hope was to encourage our fellow classmates and underclassmen to join in similar altruistic endeavors,” Silani said.
As students, Gandhi and Silani won student clinician of the year awards. Gandhi said that award changed the way potential employers perceived both of them, and they wanted to
extend that same type of honor to other deserving students.
“This is a small way in which we can give back to the school that gave us so much,” Gandhi said. “We are hoping one day to have the scholarship endowed.”
Other College of Optometry alumni giving back are Jason Drobeck, OD ’15, and Harout Khanjian, OD ’13. Drobeck and Khanjian each have created annual scholarships to be
announced at College Honors Day. In addition to the monetary award, Khanjian designed and created a sculpture symbolizing the balance of commitments that helped him succeed in
optometry school. Drobeck recognized the importance of giving back as soon as he was able to find a thriving practice opportunity by relocating to Connecticut, where he provides care
in an area with high demand for eye care services. 14 1 7 P 489 -1/ 1-
Thai-Binh Nguyen, OD ’13, also has committed to creating an award that will be available in 2018. — Jeff Malet, Writer/Photographer
To contribute to an existing scholarship program or to start your own scholarship endowment, please contact Susan Terrazas in the Office of Annual Giving at (909) 706-3476 or sterrazas@westernu.edu.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 466
San Dimas, CA 91773
309 E. Second St.
Pomona, Calif. 91766-1854
www.westernu.edu
(909) 623-6116
Return Service Requested
Alumni give back through annual scholarship
Less than one year after graduating from the College of Optometry, inaugural class members Vipal Gandhi, OD ’13 and Kambiz Silani, OD ’13, established the College’s first alumni
scholarship, to be awarded annually.
The Gandhi/Silani Annual Scholarship for Clinical Excellence and Leadership Award supports students who demonstrate leadership and top clinical skills in a patient-care setting.
Silani said the College was supportive and committed to the student body, and that he and Gandhi wanted to create a scholarship to give back to the school that supported them
unconditionally.
“Through our efforts, our hope was to encourage our fellow classmates and underclassmen to join in similar altruistic endeavors,” Silani said.
As students, Gandhi and Silani won student clinician of the year awards. Gandhi said that award changed the way potential employers perceived both of them, and they wanted to
extend that same type of honor to other deserving students.
“This is a small way in which we can give back to the school that gave us so much,” Gandhi said. “We are hoping one day to have the scholarship endowed.”
Other College of Optometry alumni giving back are Jason Drobeck, OD ’15, and Harout Khanjian, OD ’13. Drobeck and Khanjian each have created annual scholarships to be
announced at College Honors Day. In addition to the monetary award, Khanjian designed and created a sculpture symbolizing the balance of commitments that helped him succeed in
optometry school. Drobeck recognized the importance of giving back as soon as he was able to find a thriving practice opportunity by relocating to Connecticut, where he provides care
in an area with high demand for eye care services. 14 1 7 P 489 -1/ 1-
Thai-Binh Nguyen, OD ’13, also has committed to creating an award that will be available in 2018. — Jeff Malet, Writer/Photographer
To contribute to an existing scholarship program or to start your own scholarship endowment, please contact Susan Terrazas in the Office of Annual Giving at (909) 706-3476 or sterrazas@westernu.edu.
